Wesley Bryan found himself at a pivotal point in his career as he stood in a parking lot near Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia, on a brisk fall day. He was caught between his responsibilities on the golf course and his growing side project, the Bryan Bros Golf YouTube channel, which has become a major focus alongside his PGA TOUR career.

When asked how he manages to balance his hectic schedule, which includes filming around 150 videos for his channel with his brother George, all while competing in PGA TOUR events, Bryan paused before responding.

“I don’t really know how I do it,” Bryan said after a 2-under 70 in the first round of The RSM Classic. “I don’t have much energy, but I enjoy both the golf and filming. I feel for the videographers and editors who are on tight deadlines, but for us, playing golf is more fun than stressful.”

Bryan’s approach to golf as both entertainment and competition has led to an unexpected opportunity. Entering the 2024 season with limited TOUR status as a past champion, Bryan earned more starts by finishing runner-up at the Corales Puntacana Championship, and since then, he's posted four top-25 finishes in his last five starts during the FedExCup Fall. Heading into The RSM Classic, Bryan stood at No. 125 in the standings, just on the edge of securing fully exempt status for 2025.

Bryan, now 34, hasn’t been in the top 125 since his rookie season in 2017, which included a win at the RBC Heritage. After missing a Medical Extension in 2022, he has played with conditional status ever since. This week, he finds himself with a real shot at a breakthrough.

Bryan has embraced the Bryan Bros Golf business, which has evolved into a full-time venture. Highlights for 2024 include a “Major Cut” video series where the brothers attempt to make the cut at major championship venues. This has meant juggling TOUR events with video shoots, and Bryan admits he’s only had about six practice sessions this year. Despite feeling his swing has worsened over time, he’s grown more adept at managing his game.

His solid performance at The RSM Classic, including a 2-under 70, leaves him in a position where a few birdies could push him into the top 125 by the weekend. The tournament, held at Sea Island Golf Club’s Plantation and Seaside courses, will determine his fate, as he could either make the cut and secure a top-125 finish or face the uncertainty of conditional status again in 2025.

Bryan, however, is not overly concerned about the outcome. He reflects on how far he’s come: “A few months ago, I was at peace with the idea of stepping away from the TOUR. But now, I have a new challenge. I want to finish inside the top 125, but I also want to balance that with my work with Bryan Bros. I’m caught between two great options.”

As the weekend progresses, Bryan will face a range of possible outcomes. Whether he makes the cut or falls just short, he’s already proven that his unique blend of golf and entertainment has led to an unexpected but rewarding career twist.

Other Players to Watch

• Michael Thorbjornsen (No. 138, projected No. 77): The PGA TOUR University No. 1 made an impressive comeback with an 8-under 64 at The RSM Classic and is in good shape to earn exempt status for 2025.
• Dylan Wu (No. 131, projected No. 121): After an opening 4-under 68, Wu is in a strong position to stay within the top 125.
• Adrien Dumont de Chassart (No. 142, projected No. 124): The TOUR rookie, coming off a T3 finish at the Bermuda Championship, is poised to secure a top-125 finish with a solid performance this week.

Projected Out

• Wesley Bryan (No. 125, projected No. 126): While Bryan is inside the projected cut line, he may fall just outside the top 125 without a few birdies.
• Zac Blair (No. 123, projected No. 127): Blair opened with an even-par 72 and faces a crucial Friday.
• Joel Dahmen (No. 124, projected No. 128): After a tough finish, Dahmen is now in a precarious spot and needs a strong showing to stay inside the top 125.

The Aon Next 10

• Kevin Yu (Projected No. 57) and Andrew Novak (Projected No. 58) are both on track to earn spots in two signature West Coast events, while Nick Taylor (Projected No. 61) and Justin Rose (Projected No. 62) are at risk of falling out of the top 60.

Notable Mentions

• Sam Ryder (Even-par 72) is just outside the projected cut line and fighting to stay within the top 125.
• Kelly Kraft (5-under 65) moved from No. 173 to No. 158, showing significant improvement.

The next few days will determine who makes the cut for fully exempt status in 2025, and Wesley Bryan’s journey could very well be the most dramatic of all.